The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-03-24
THE PICKET-GUARD.
The Adventures OF Two soldiers Who We're Caught
Sleeping on Post.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: During the
delay Of the Federal Army of the Potomac Tor
a month In the swamps OF Warwick IN April,
1852, the duty of the picket guards was Tar
from being what one might term pleasant. The
constant firing kept mp by both the lanks and
JohDnlcs reminded me of a small battle. Inc
marshy swamus along which our line was estab-
lishei were not at ali inviting. The hootlng
Of owls, the croaking Of millions Of frogs, aud
the constant zip" Of the mimic had ten
dcncy 20 make one feel melancholy. The or
dcrs were OF the strictcst nature. Audacity,
resolution and watchfuluess were three prinel-
pal things impressed upon the minds OF the
picLcts.
On the night or The 9Th Of April. 1862, my
self and comade were posted along thcaboye
line about half mile 10 the left of Lees MILL
ourp0stion being critical one, the stnctest or
der were imposed upon Us, and we were ordered
to keep sharp okOut and TO report promptly
any movement the enemy might make In our
front About o'clock we relieved the line,
and after everything became quiet we began 10
plan in regard 10 which of US two would take
the first turn on the outer post, some p feet IN
advance Of the main line. IL was finally de-
termined that would takethe first turn, while
he would remain at the large oak tree when
/ stood on the line. advised him 10 sleep, ana
said would arouse him in case i heard any
one coming. i left him, and in short time
j thought from the snoring that he was
secure IN the arms Of Morpheus, in which posi-
ton he remained until about , o'clock In the
morning, when j cautiously retired, and awak-
ing him / informed him Of the time. lie arose,
and carefully Gaping his gun advanced to the
! outer post while i made arrangements 10 ENJOY
short repose. Placing my knapsack nj the loot
! OF the tree and my havcrsack and cantcen
+ within reach, uncapped my gun and without
much ceremony seated myself upon my KNAPP
sack, and putting my right arm through The
Eun-strap and my hands under my great coat,
was soon in the land of nod.
After short nap ! was suddenly awakened
/ by some one trying 10 get my gun, and in open
! ing my eyes j was convinced that such WAS the
case, and a man with a gun, whom ! supposed
/ 10 be rebel. jumping M ] ierked the gun
! from him and capped it quicker think, than
j ever did before oraiterward, and was making
4 arrangements 10 begin warlike operations,
when i discovered that he was Union officer
commanding the picket-line. Seeing at a
glance what my object was he made himself
known, and told me the gun which he had he
had secured from my comrade on the outpost
and that he was fast asleep. On going out i
soon discovered that the report was correct. On
awakening the comrade he was greatly sur
/ prised to learn that his gun had been taken
] from hmm. Sorry condition 10 find picket in.
| j requested him TO accompany me 10 the safe
4 side OF the tree, where the officer was. lie told
4 us that we had violated the orders by sleeping
/ upon post, and that il was punishable by death
j While this conversation WIS going on i was
moditating what would be the best way 10 set
tie the matter. j finally concluded that two
4 lives were better than one, and our only chance
| Of escape would be TO shoot the officer, drag
/ him a short distance in front Of the line and
report that he was killed by rebel. While
1 contemplating this cruel act one of the John
. MES, hearing noise i'm that direction, sent a
whistlng ball near the spot where we three
I were standing. which somewhat alloyiated my
revengeful feelings in regard 10 taking the Off
GERS life. After few gentle suggestions and a
/ promise to the officer that we would never be
caught in the same dilemma again, he took his
/ departure, giving us his word Of honor that be
would not report Us, and j think he never did.
After be left we quietly compared thoughts in
| regard 10 the disposition of the officer and our
plans correspondent exactly 10 the killing OF
the officer and the dragging Of his body near
/ the outpost
In that dismal swamp, at the hour of
O'Clock on the morning of april Is ls62, we
4 took solemn obligation that we would never
! be caught sleeping on picket-post again, and
from that day until July, 1866, when was dis
charged, / never slept on picket, no diderenc,
who my comradc might be. My comrade who
was crippled shortly aiterward by wrestling and
4 left the regiment, served the remainder of his
i term o. enlistment in the Invalid Corps where
/ the duties OF piclct-guard were not 50 strict
/ w. III. GLASS, 59th Pa, Allcnsvile Pa.